​The Cardinals locked in left tackle Paris Johnson through the 2027 season by exercising a $19 million option on his contract, yet that move hasn’t halted his contemplation of a longer-term deal. In June, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reported that Johnson envisions becoming “a $40 million-per-year left tackle,” though he acknowledged that Laremy Tunsil currently sits at the top of the market with an average annual salary just over $30 million. Such a gap would require an unusual leap for an NFL extension. During a PHNX Cardinals appearance, Johnson addressed that June remark and clarified that his focus isn’t so much about chasing money as it is about the mindset he wants to bring against pass rushers who command such earnings.
“When I started speaking on that, the question was more about how you would grade an elite tackle and how you measure yourself as one,” Johnson explained. “My answer was exactly this: when I watch tape, when I go to practice and when I play in a game, my mindset is to be the $40 million man. When I watch my tape, I ask myself, ‘Would you pay this guy $40 million?’ That’s how I evaluate my performance. That’s how I approach practice. That’s how I compete. Because the guy I’m lined up against, if he’s worth something, he’s worth at least $35 million to $50 million. The tackle market isn’t always that clear. The overall market tends to move in small increments from one player to the next, and that’s just the nature of it. The high-end defenders don’t follow the same pattern. But my mindset is that elite pass rushers — that’s what the market targets for the top tackles. I believe it takes an equivalent-level player to neutralize that kind of talent. So I’m not stepping onto the field thinking, ‘Pay me $28 million or $28.5 million.’”
Johnson will face a challenging slate in 2026, including a matchup with Myles Garrett, one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. Shutting down opponents of that caliber may not immediately catapult Johnson to a $40 million AAV, but a strong performance versus Garrett and other elite rushers could significantly bolster his case as he negotiates his next contract. If Johnson continues to demonstrate the ability to neutralize top-tier edge talent, he could move closer to the higher end of the tackle market when his next deal arrives. For now, the $19 million option keeps him secured through 2027, while his mindset and on-field results keep him squarely in the conversation for a marquee extension in the future.